Feedback on the excitement of last weekend's games has been plentiful. There is no doubt the "Lizard Pit" and our loud fan support will have visiting teams on the backfoot all year. Just a reminder that all season passholders get access to the upstairs VIP area.

For those of you who are not able to make it to the game, or have family and friends interstate or overseas you can now view the Blue Tongue games live at www.slapshot.com.au

For all the updates on the team be sure to visit www.bluetongues.com.au , and you can also get involved with all the banter around league by visiting www.hockeypulse.com.au/forum

For those of you I haven't met be sure to introduce yourselves when you are next at a game.
Dave Emblem

THIS WEEKENDS COACHES REPORT vs NEWCASTLE

This weekend should be fast and furious hockey as the hottest two teams in the League face off for clashes this Saturday & Sunday 3.30 PM at Iceland in Bundall.

Newcastle North Stars are riding a five game winning streak and a 10-3 demolition of the Blue Tongues the last time we met in Newcastle. We on the other hand are riding our own 3 game winning streak!

The North Stars always ice a good team and this weekend is no different. With 3 high scoring imports and also Matt Ezzy, the Australian National Team, Murwillumbah born and Gold Coast trained goaltender.

We are obviously fired up to avenge our last defeat at the the hands of the North Stars in a penalty filled and undisciplined effort by our boys. The North Stars scored 8 of their 10 goals with our players in the sin bin.

Our last three wins have been a valuable learning lesson for the boys.The first win against the Central Coast saw us get out to a big lead and hang on for the victory. Last week our first home game of the year we showed off our offensive capabilities in burying the Sydney Bears in a 9-1 onslaught. The next day in the secons game against Sydney we played a strong game early, only to loose our way in the second period and came back in the last period to win the game in the last minute of play 5-4.

The boys have shown good individual, line and team accountabilty in refusing to loose in our last 3 games. What has been achieved recently will mean nothing if we are not able to carry it on with a good solid team effort this weekend and show all visiting teams that the 'Lizard Pit' is truely an arena they will hate to play in.

This weekend's line up includes:

Simo Mustonen who showed last weekend what we all know, and that is he is one on the premier goalies in the league. Back up goalies s will be CJ Anderson and Brenton Cooney.

Our defensive unit includes Don Burke who showed last weekend he will be back on the Aussie team in no time and Cameron Trew who played beyond his years and will continue to succeed as long as he keeps his game simple. Ross Howell whoscored the game winning goal last Sunday and Chris Martin who will need to be more physical this weeknd to be most effective. Rob Avey's experience will be missed Saturday due to other committments and he will be back in the lineup Sunday.

Our forward lines include Gaetan Royer, Brian Lachance and Jack Conner who are proving an absolute handful for the opposition teams since being put together two weeks ago. All three players sit in the top of the team scoring with 10 points each. Davey Upton, Billy Crumm and Jon Bale are equally as impressive with Davey's intensity, Billy's hard hits and goal scoring, and Jonny has elevated his game to new heights. The final line of Matt Lehotzky who was finally able to play his first games, Ben Spillane checked well again and chipped in with a couple of valuable goals last Saturday, and Ben Maher who gets back in the lineup due to his size and enthusiasm. Marco Bertossa rounds out the forwards.Michael Blackwell will be in the lineup if he gets clearance from the Doc to return to the lineup after an upper body injury.

So come out this weekend and see the competition's hottest team, Newcastle try to battle for supremacy in th Blue Tongue "Lizard Pit".

P.S. If nothing else come out and give Newcastle goalie Matt Izzy heaps!
Kevin Sands